Joseph Gordon-Levitt exits Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained'

The Dark Knight Rises actor revealed that he will instead focus on his upcoming directorial debut, adding that Tarantino was very encouraging in his decision.

"I would have loved, loved to have done it," Gordon-Levitt told MTV News.

"He's one of my very favorite filmmakers, and he was really supportive of me directing and that meant the world to me," the 31-year-old continued.

Gordon-Levitt's project centres on a modern day Don Juan who decides to re-evaluate his life.

Following the Batman sequel, the actor can next be seen in Looper, in which he plays the young version of Bruce Willis's character. The role required such an extensive use of make-up and prosthetics that Gordon-Levitt claimed even his own mother did not recognize him.